A linseede oil-painted knapsack sounds like a hot idea!

[folo1]

On the RevWar list, the subject of knapsacks painted with linseed oil came up. In case you might be thinking of doing that yourself, Lee Boyle warned with a statement from James Abeel, an officer of the Continental Army at Valley Forge, wrote to Jacob Weiss on 21 June 1778 ( Mss. 17,402, Library of Congress): "I received the burnt Knapsacks they had hung 14 Days to dry and Orders were given to the Waggoner to turn them over now & then which he says he did however I do not think it will do to have any more painted as they will in spite of all we can do burn unless they are hung & dried under cover for at least three Months, I have known them to take fire after being six Months on Shipboard."

A period reference to spontaneous combustion, so at least you'd be a period smoldering husk...but be careful!